Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Tuesday 25 January 2000

Scottish Executive

Access to Information

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what access it has to papers of the previous administration and whether that access differs from the practice followed when there is a change of administration of Her Majesty’s Government.

Mr Jack McConnell: When there is a change of Administration of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, there is a long established convention that a new Administration does not normally have access to papers of a previous Administration of a different political complexion. The convention covers, in particular, Ministers’ own deliberations and the advice given to them by officials, other than written advice from the Law Officers and those papers which were published or put in the public domain by the predecessor Administration.

  In applying the convention to the devolved administration in Scotland any information contained in administrative and departmental records belonging to a Minister of the Crown or a UK Government Department is treated as if it were contained in papers of a previous Administration of a different political complexion. This convention, therefore, qualifies the right conferred upon the Scottish Ministers by Article 10(2)(b) of the Transfer of Property (Scottish Ministers) Order 1999 (SI 1999/1104) to have access to certain administrative and departmental records belonging to a Minister of the Crown or a UK Government Department. In practice this means, in particular, that Scottish Ministers do not normally have access to advice given to Scottish Office Ministers or to the deliberations of those Ministers in papers dated before 1 July 1999, unless they have been published. Written opinions of the UK Law Officers which date from before 1 July 1999 may be made available.

Asylum Seekers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have been held with the Home Office concerning the dispersal of asylum seekers in Scotland under the terms of section 101(b) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including asylum seekers.

Asylum Seekers

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Home Office concerning the provision of Home Office funding for the housing, education and other needs of refugees and asylum seekers and their families in Scotland under the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Iain Gray: There have been various discussions on these matters, which are continuing on a regular basis.

Caledonian MacBrayne

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of subsidy are granted to Caledonian MacBrayne in respect of the ferry operations between (a) Gourock and Dunoon and (b) Dunoon and Gourock.

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of subsidy are granted to Caledonian MacBrayne in respect of the ferry operations between (a) Wemyss Bay and Rothesay and (b) Rothesay and Wemyss Bay.

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of subsidy are granted to Caledonian MacBrayne in respect of the ferry operations between (a) Ardrossan and Brodick and (b) Brodick and Ardrossan.

Sarah Boyack: The deficit subsidy grant awarded to Caledonian MacBrayne to meet the annual operating loss is constituted as a block payment. The Annual Report and Accounts of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd provides results analysed by area of operation.

Defence

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the future of RAF Buchan with Her Majesty’s Government and, if so, what were the outcomes of these discussions and when does it expect to be informed of a decision.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the future of RAF Buchan. The Ministry of Defence is expected to make a decision in the spring.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be granted powers to implement section 24 of the Environment Act 1995 as it relates to the provision of drainage advice.

Sarah Boyack: Work is in hand on proposals to commence section 24 of the Environment Act and to make ancillary provision. This will make it necessary for persons proposing to carry out certain drainage works to consult the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about precautions to prevent pollution to controlled waters and, in carrying out such works, to take account of SEPA’s views.

Environment

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of aggregates and quarrying interests in connection with the proposed aggregates tax and what representations it has made as a consequence of any such meetings to Her Majesty's Government about the potential impact of an aggregates tax in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: No such meetings have taken place.

Environment

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-97 by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 1999, what targets it has set for recycling aggregates; what action it has taken to ensure that adopted Structure Plans have identified 10-year supplies of aggregates, and what it plans to do to ensure that an adequate supply of aggregates is available in local authority areas where sufficient local supplies of aggregates have not been identified.

Sarah Boyack: As my answer of 30 June indicated, research is currently being undertaken to gather information on recycling activity to inform consideration of the need for future targets. Structure Plans are examined at various stages by the Scottish Executive to ensure they are consistent with national planning policy. The Scottish Ministers can modify Structure Plans that are considered to be significantly out of accord with national policy. In some instances, joint working between planning authorities may be necessary to ensure adequate reserves are available.

Finance

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-988 by Mr Jack McConnell on 31 August 1999, whether it will list the local authorities which are giving discretionary rates relief within the terms of the Village Shops Relief scheme, and whether it will list the local authorities where no mandatory relief is given under the scheme.

Mr Jack McConnell: The attached table indicates those local authorities in Scotland which gave discretionary rates relief and the amounts granted in 1998-99, the first year of operation of the scheme. There are eight local authorities where no mandatory relief is given under the scheme as they have no eligible shops.

  


 


Mandatory

  £ 


Discretionary

  £ 




Aberdeen City

  

0

  

0

  



Aberdeenshire

  

1,250

  

125,871

  



Angus

  

4,853

  

0

  



Argyll & Bute

  

28,245

  

95,323

  



Clackmannanshire

  

225

  

0

  



Dumfries & Galloway

  

24,165

  

152,150

  



Dundee City

  

0

  

0

  



East Ayrshire

  

3,068

  

0

  



East Dunbartonshire

  

1,488

  

7,230

  



East Lothian

  

2,835

  

0

  



East Renfrewshire

  

0

  

0

  



Edinburgh, City of

  

0

  

0

  



Eilean Siar

  

9,808

  

92,880

  



Falkirk

  

282

  

0

  



Fife

  

18,787

  

21,028

  



Glasgow City

  

0

  

0

  



Highland

  

51,799

  

34,788

  



Inverclyde

  

998

  

0

  



Midlothian

  

0

  

0

  



Moray

  

5,717

  

72,184

  



North Ayrshire

  

3,835

  

0

  



North Lanarkshire

  

7,123

  

0

  



Orkney

  

6,959

  

5,242

  



Perth & Kinross

  

16,019

  

85,588

  



Renfrewshire

  

0

  

0

  



Scottish Borders

  

9,539

  

81,348

  



Shetland

  

8,578

  

18,415

  



South Ayrshire

  

6,916

  

0

  



South Lanarkshire

  

6,224

  

159,035

  



Stirling

  

3,698

  

58,457

  



West Dunbartonshire

  

500

  

0

  



West Lothian

  

0

  

0

  



Scotland

  

222,911

  

1,009,539

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any correspondence or communication between The Scotland Office and/or The Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the subject of the Scottish fisheries zone.

Mr John Home Robertson: Mr Lochhead should direct his question about correspondence between the Scotland Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Secretary of State of Scotland.

  Regarding the correspondence between the Scottish Executive and other parties, Mr Finnie wrote to the Secretary of State about this issue on 20 June 1999. This letter has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place, prior to 1 July 1999, between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and The Scottish Office on the definition of the Scottish fisheries zone and whether, at any stage, MAFF suggested alternative boundaries other than that finally agreed and, if so, what were their co-ordinates.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive cannot comment on the actions of a previous administration.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the progress is of current research into seal populations including population dynamics and their impact on fish stocks and what its policy is on controlling the seal population.

Mr John Home Robertson: Under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, the Natural Environment Research Council is required to provide Scottish Ministers with scientific advice on matters related to the management of seal populations. In practice this advice is provided on an annual basis. I have just received the 1999 report and I will be considering its contents very carefully. I will ensure that a copy of this report is placed with SPICe.

  A range of individual research projects are underway to investigate different aspects of interactions between seals and fish, for example, seals and salmon on the River Conon and the feeding habits of seals in Lochs Shieldaig and Torridon.

  The Conservation of Seals Act 1970 already permits the shooting of seals, provided that an appropriately licensed firearm is used, during the open seasons; and limited shooting under licence during the close seasons for the prevention of damage to fisheries. Current policy recognises that control of seal predation on fisheries is best handled at the local level.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outline timetable is for formulating Scotland’s position and aims in connection with the review of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Mr John Home Robertson: The review of the Common Fisheries Policy is due to be completed by 2002. The first round of consultations between the European Commission, member states and the fishing industry was completed last year. We expect to see the Commission’s response to this exercise shortly at which time we will review developments with the industry. We are in broad agreement with the priorities expressed by the industry, which include a greater regional dimension to the CFP, and the maintenance of six and 12 mile coastal water limits and the principle of relative stability. Other issues, such as reduction in discarding of catches and the integration of environmental factors within fisheries policies, will also feature within the CFP review.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to withdraw or relax any control regulations in the light of the introduction of satellite monitoring of fishing vessels and, if so, which regulations.

Mr John Home Robertson: Satellite monitoring arrangements apply to fishing vessels over 24 metres in overall length and are intended to supplement existing control measures.

  As yet experience has to be gained of the practical operation of satellite monitoring. However, the Community has amended the rules for the Shetland Box so that satellite position reports may be accepted as fulfilling the obligations on masters of vessels over 24 metres to notify entry into and exit from the Box.

  The implications of satellite monitoring arrangements have also been considered as part of a recent review of pelagic management arrangements undertaken by a joint industry/Fisheries Departments working group. The group's report recommended, and we have agreed, some consequential changes to the arrangements for the exchange and uplift of pelagic licences. A copy of the report has been placed in SPICe for information. The Fisheries Departments will be writing to pelagic interests shortly setting out detailed guidance on the new arrangements.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider issuing guidance to Scottish Trusts to ensure that NHS workers employed by contractors are paid promptly after a national settlement is reached.

Susan Deacon: Staff who work for contractors are not employed directly by Scottish NHS Trusts. Their terms and conditions of service are a matter for individual contractors to determine.

Health

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that there is training available for GPs to allow early recognition of the symptoms of motor neurone disease and to support adequately patients throughout the course of their illness.

Susan Deacon: Motor neurone disease is difficult to diagnose in the early stages and usually requires referral to a consultant neurologist for investigation and management.

  Training in diagnostic skills is a fundamental part of medical undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education. Motor neurone disease is a particularly distressing illness; the progression of the disease is not affected by the stage at which it is diagnosed. Diagnosis and management of patients involves close collaboration between GPs, consultant neurologists and ultimately palliative care services.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2275 by Susan Deacon on 18 November 1999, what the most frequent post-meningitis illnesses are and what resources are targeted towards providing treatment for those conditions.

Susan Deacon: Patients who have had meningococcal infection may suffer a variety of consequences, including deafness, brain damage, epilepsy, changes in eyesight, general fatigue and giddiness. Patients suffering these complications are treated by the National Health Service in the same way as patients who suffer from them as a result of other causes. Information on the numbers of patients suffering these complications as a result of meningococcal infection and the costs of their treatment is not collected routinely.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been released for patient care due to the reduction in the number of NHS Trusts.

Susan Deacon: The reduction in the number of NHS Trusts in Scotland is expected to provide direct net savings of £6 million a year. These contribute to the £100 million cumulative savings which will be generated by 2002 as a result of the ending of the NHS internal market.

Health

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider classifying manic depression as a life-threatening illness.

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has no intention to classify manic depression as a life-threatening illness.

  If a patient is suffering from a mental disorder to such a degree that it is necessary for their health and safety or for the protection of other persons, the patient can be admitted to hospital under the terms of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984.

Justice

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many supervised attendance orders for fine defaulters have been imposed in the current and last four financial years, expressed in total and as a proportion of all fine defaulters.

Mr Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the table. Supervised attendance order schemes were not available to all sheriff and district courts until 26th October 1998.

  Supervised attendance orders imposed on fine defaulters

  


Financial year

  

Sheriff court fines

  

District court fines

  



Persons made subject 

  to SAOs

  

Persons made subject 

  to SAOs

  



Number

  

Percentage1


Number

  

Percentage1




1995-96

  

590

  

2.0

  

N/A

  

N/A

  



1996-97

  

970

  

3.4

  

N/A

  

N/A

  



1997-98

  

1,366

  

5.0

  

8762


3.13




1998-99

  

2,271

  

8.6

  

9514


2.54




1999-20005


1,224

  

6.6

  

N/A

  

N/A

  



  Notes:

  1. As a percentage of outstanding fine accounts in default to the extent of a Fines Enquiry Court citation being issued.

  2. Excludes Aberdeen, Angus, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire.

  3. Excludes Aberdeen, Angus, Argyll & Bute, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire.

  4. Excludes Glasgow and Stirling.

  5. Cases dealt with up to and including 9 December 1999.

Ministers

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all official ministerial visits undertaken by Scottish Ministers since 13 May 1999 with the names of the parliamentary constituencies visited, and whether the relevant constituency MSP was informed of the visit in each case.

Donald Dewar: It is not Scottish Executive policy to publish ministerial diaries although we would be happy to give details of any specific visit. The intention is always to give MSPs and MPs notice of any ministerial engagements in their constituency.

Social Inclusion

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the elimination of age discrimination in relation to personal loans and other banking facilities.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Legislation on equal opportunities and the regulation of financial services are both reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is working with the Scottish financial institutions to encourage the promotion of more inclusive practices.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether inland waterways freight facilities grant (IWFFG) is treated as a separate budget allocation from the freight facilities grant, whether executive devolution exists in the administration of IWFFG, whether the Scottish Executive has control of the criteria by which awards of IWFFG are made, and, if so, what use has been made to date of IWFFG in Scotland, what applications are currently being considered, and whether an offer of grant will be made to facilitate timber movements from Argyll to Ayr harbour.

Sarah Boyack: Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) for inland waterways is drawn from the same budget allocation available for railway projects. This amounts to £18.3 million for the three years between 1999-2000 and 2001-02. Inland waterways are a devolved matter and the Scottish Ministers have responsibility for the administration of FFG for inland waterways by applying criteria common to the FFG scheme as a whole.

  To date there have been no awards of FFG for inland waterways. Several proposals are under consideration, including a number dealing with the movement of timber. However, because of commercial sensitivities, it would be inappropriate to give further details.